Weather Patterns
On a geologic time scale the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, along with the other mid-ocean spreading centers, have a huge effect on the environment. They are even responsible for the climate that we experience today. Because the current shape and configuration of the oceans has a controlling effect on ocean currents, and because these ocean currents control how heat flows to the northern and southern latitudes, they control our climate as much or more than the atmospheric weather patterns. In fact, the mid-ocean ridges, through this indirect relationship, control atmospheric weather patterns as well. The origin of the Jet Stream is strongly controlled by the Himalayas, which are a product of spreading at mid-ocean ridges. The Jet Stream in the atmosphere, and the ocean current known as the Gulf Stream, as well as the Pacific currents, are responsible for most of the weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. Likewise the southern hemisphere has weather patterns created by the movement of energy through ocean currents and atmospheric currents, which are indirectly controlled by the movement of the tectonic plates driven by the mid-ocean spreading centers.
http://earth.usc.edu/~stott/Catalina/Oce…
The ridge causes volcanic activity in Iceland and influences meteorological impact with air travel.
http://earth.usc.edu/~stott/Catalina/Oce…
The ridge causes volcanic activity in Iceland and influences meteorological impact with air travel.
Habitats
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/4/8/13487558/219310.gif?323)
Seamounts as a “habitat” is a substitute for the multitude
of habitats seamounts they provide vertically and horizontally ranges of taxa including to migratory species. The Mid Atlantic Ridge provides the most extensive habitat for the reproduction of seamount-aggregating deepwater fish species
(roundnose grenadier, alfonsino, orange roughy, redfish). Coral reefs are the most diverse marine habitat per unit area, and perhaps the most diverse marine habitat overall. Threatened and or declining habitats consist of seamounts, deep sea sponge aggregations, lophelia pertusa reefs, and coral gardens.
http://www.ngo.grida.no/wwfneap/Publication/briefings/MAR%20flyer.pdf
http://www.comlmaps.org/mcintyre/ch4
www.ospar.org/.../dbase/.../10-17e_rec%20mar_north_of_azores.doc
Ocean Circulation/Currents
Frontal zones are highly productive border areas, often separating animal communities. The mid-Atlantic Ridge influences regional surface and deep-water circulation. The circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean is characterized by two large gyres: the subpolar and subtropical gyres. The eastward transport of warm water is split in several branches and at the mid-Atlantic Ridge these branches are found between 45°N. The value of pre-cruise modelling and satellite images. The mid-Atlantic Ridge influence local and regional circulation patterns, which in turn are likely to affect the distribution of pelagic organisms.
http://www.mar-eco.no/learning-zone/backgrounders/oceanography/ocean_currents
of habitats seamounts they provide vertically and horizontally ranges of taxa including to migratory species. The Mid Atlantic Ridge provides the most extensive habitat for the reproduction of seamount-aggregating deepwater fish species
(roundnose grenadier, alfonsino, orange roughy, redfish). Coral reefs are the most diverse marine habitat per unit area, and perhaps the most diverse marine habitat overall. Threatened and or declining habitats consist of seamounts, deep sea sponge aggregations, lophelia pertusa reefs, and coral gardens.
http://www.ngo.grida.no/wwfneap/Publication/briefings/MAR%20flyer.pdf
http://www.comlmaps.org/mcintyre/ch4
www.ospar.org/.../dbase/.../10-17e_rec%20mar_north_of_azores.doc
Ocean Circulation/Currents
Frontal zones are highly productive border areas, often separating animal communities. The mid-Atlantic Ridge influences regional surface and deep-water circulation. The circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean is characterized by two large gyres: the subpolar and subtropical gyres. The eastward transport of warm water is split in several branches and at the mid-Atlantic Ridge these branches are found between 45°N. The value of pre-cruise modelling and satellite images. The mid-Atlantic Ridge influence local and regional circulation patterns, which in turn are likely to affect the distribution of pelagic organisms.
http://www.mar-eco.no/learning-zone/backgrounders/oceanography/ocean_currents